Three Metro ticket offices are to close next month as part of cost saving cuts.

Nexus, the firm which operates the service, confirmed Monument, Four Lane Ends and Heworth Metro stations will all lose their ticket offices from October 4 reducing its total of manned ticket offices from nine to six.

The company said Monument was selected for closure in Newcastle city centre both because it is the least accessible shop for people with disabilities, and because the shops at Central and Haymarket are important to visitor and student markets respectively.

Newcastle city centre will still be served by two travel shops located at Haymarket Metro station and at the Central Station Metro concourse.

The decision to close shops follows consultation with customers, community representatives and access groups during the spring, as well as extensive consultation with staff.

A Nexus spokesman said 97 per cent of weekly Metro tickets are purchased from ticket machines rather than travel shops and the company has rolled out its Pop Card service at more than 400 shops across Tyne and Wear.

Bernard Garner, director general of Nexus, said: “We have worked closely with staff and unions and have avoided making any compulsory redundancies. The vast majority of the staff have already been redeployed to other roles or have taken voluntary redundancy.

“Six other Travel Shops we run in Tyne and Wear will remain open, and these are at Central Station, Gateshead, Haymarket and North Shields Metro stations, South Shields town centre and Sunderland Park Lane Interchange.

“The closures are due to the changing way that people are buying and making their journeys as we continue to roll out smart travel on the Pop card. As a responsible public body, which is funded by local taxpayers, we had to respond to this and examine what changes to our retail structure were required. Travel Shops require a public subsidy to run and this cost to us increases as sales over the counter decline.

“A public consultation held earlier this year indicated closing three shops will not have a significant impact on passengers, but we are providing clear information on alternatives to those people directly affected.”